Radio and like socket installations



July 2, 1935. C, L, KNUTSON 2,006,739

RADIO AND LIKE SOCKET INSTALLATIONS Filed March 2, 1935 nvenor:

Patented July 2, 1935 PATENTI OFFICE RADIO AND LIKE SOCKET INSTALLATIONS Carl L. Knutson, Maywood, Ill., assignor to Cinch Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, lill., a

corporation of Illinois Application March 2, 193s, serial No. 659,305

9 Claims.

My invention aims to provide improvements in radio and like sockets.

Reference is hereby made to application Serial No. 731,932, filed June l22, 1934, a divisional of this application.

In the drawing which illustrates preferred embodiments of my invention:-

Figure 1 is a plan View of a socket installation with parts broken away to illustrate the structure of the installation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an under side plan view of the installation shown in Fig. 1`before the socket has been rotated to lock it in position;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but with the socket rotated into locked position;

Fig. 5 is a front View of a contact member used with the socket installation;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the contact member shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 'I is a side elevation of the contact member shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing a slightly different supporting plate construction;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on the line @-3 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section taken on the line iii- 113 -of Fig. 3 showing in a slightly overemphasiz'ed manner the way the socket is attached just before rotating to the position shown in Fig. L

Referring to the structure of my invention, as illustrated by the drawing, 1 have shown a sirnple radio socket secured to a supporting structure without the use of bolts or rivets. have also illustrated and will more speciically hereinafter describe an improved contact member for the socket. 'Since my improved socket is adapted to be used with supporting structures of various thicknesses, 1 have shown two such supporting structures.

Referring first to the socket per se I have preferred to illustrate one which is formed from a plurality of layers of thin insulating material. My preferred socket construction includes a top plate l (Figs. l and 2) a bottom plate 2, a spacer 3 and, when desirable, a guide washer d, all of which are secured together by a tubular rivet 5, preferably rectangular in cross-section. The top plate l isV provided with a series of circularly arranged apertures 6 just outside the periphery of the guide washer 4 and the spacer 3 and bottom plate 2 are provided with a corresponding number of apertures in alignment with the apertures 6. Each socket is provided with the same number of contact members 1 as it has apertures 6 and these contact members are preferably carried by the bottom plate 5, as illustrated by the drawing. n 5

Referring now-to the structure of the socket p and the supporting plate 8, with respect to attachment of the socket to the plate, I have shown a socket which is circular in outline and a plate 3 which is relatively thin and has a circular aperture 9 formed therein of about the same size as the bottom plate 2.

The specic means of attachment of the socket to the plate 8 includes three projections lll (Fig 3)` formed integral with the plate and extending into the aperture 9 equal distances apart around theperiphery thereof. The bottom plate 2 of .thesocket has notches l l formed therein adjacent to the periphery and they are of such shape and spacing that they correspond with the projections lll. The projections l@ are adapted to engage the top plate l and bottom plate il of the socket between them when the socket has been rotated to a predetermined position. While not absolutely essential, I also provide detent locking means to prevent accidental rotation of the socket relative to the supporting plate t when once the socket is attached. They particular locking means illustrated includes three semi-circular notches l2 (Fig. 3) formed in the supporting plate 3 adjacent to the periphery of the aperture 9 and three correspondinglugs i3 (Figs. 1 and 2) adapted to engage the semi-circular notches l2. The lugs i3 are preferably provided by stamping them from the material of the top plate l and moving them downwardly so that they project beyond the under surface of that plate member. In the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 the plates of the socket are spaced apart by the combined thick nesses of the spacer 3 and the anges H4 of the contact member. This spacing does not vary to any appreciable extent with a given type of socket, whereas that type of socket may be used on supporting structures 8 of different thicknesses. in Figs. 1 through 4 the thickness of the supporting structure 8 is about the same as the space between the plates l and 2 of the socket.

The method of attaching the above described socket and supporting structure is as follows. First, the base 2 of the socket is entered through the aperture 9 in the supporting structure 8 with the notches l I in alignment with the projections l0, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 10. It will be noted that the top plate I and spacer 3 ex slightly when pressed downwardly during the 55 entering operation to allow the bottom plate 2 to pass the bottom plane of the supporting structure 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. Then the socket is rotated one-sixth of a turn so that it the top face'of the supporting plate 8 adjacent' to the aperture 9 and by overlapping engagement of the bottom plate 2 with lthe projections I0, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. During the rotating movement of the socket it is held in axial n alignment with the aperture 9 by the spacer3 which contacts with the ends of the projections' I Il and prevents lateral shifting of the socket. Also during this movement the lugs I3 ride around the upper face of the supporting structure 8 adjacent to the aperture 9 until they snap into the recesses I2 and prevent further rotation of the socket; Thus the socket assumes its normal flat relation and is rigidly secured in position against accidental movement. y

The contact members illustrated are each formed from a single piece of sheet metal. Each contact member has a tubular portion I5 divided throughout its length by a slit I6 to permit yielding thereof. A ange I 4 is provided at one end of the tubular portion I5 and the flange is also divided by the slit I6 so as not to interfere with the yielding of the tubular portion. At the opposite end of the tubular portion I5 I have provided a wiring terminal I 'I which may be bent into any suitable form such, for instance, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and '7.

In assembling the contact members with the socket, the operation is very simple because the y apertures in the bottom `plate 2 are oval and of such size that the wiring terminal may pass through very readily, as shown in Fig. 2. The ilange I4 rests against the bottom plate 2 and holds the contact in position.` It is necessary to provide only a single hole in the bottom 2 for each contact. 'Ihe assembly of the parts of the socket is very simple and when complete the ,socket is in the nature of a laminated structure very compact and easy to handle. Since the holes in the base 2 and the tubular portion I5 are oval, the terminals may be assembled in predetermined xed positions. 4 j

My imroved socket and installation are particularly desirable because theyare simple, compact, relatively inexpensive and save considerable labor in assembly. y The use of rivets, bolts, or the like, is unnecessary because the socket is a self-contained unit having integral means adapted to cooperate with the supporting structure by a simple rotary action to securely ailix the socket in position. It conserves space, thereby permitting radio set manufacturers to build sets more compactly. The socket can beattached and detached solely fromA the top side of the supporting structure.

The contact members are simple and can be easily and quickly assembled with the socket. They are -of the floating type and iii? loosely in the apertures in the part to which they are attached thereby permitting free expansion and contraction when cooperating prongs are being engaged with and disengaged therefrom.

The structure illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 differs from that illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4 only as to the supporting structure 8. In this construction the projections I0 are inclined slightly relative to the plane of the supporting structure 8 because that supporting .structure is of substantially l from the bottom plate 2 the thickness of the flanges I4-of the contact members, the projections I0 might slide between the spacer and the bottom plate during attachment of the socket, thereby permitting the socket to shift out of alignment K with the aperture 9. To overcome this, I have formed the bosses I8 in the supporting structure 8 adjacent to the aperture 9. These boss portions 'extend slightly beyond the plane of the ends of the inclined projections I0 and cooperate with the outer periphery of the bottom plate 2 of the socket during attachment, thereby to prevent lateral shifting of the socket relative to the supporting structure. v

While I have'illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of my invention is best defined by thefollowing claims.

l. A socket installation of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting structure having an aperture therethrough, a socket structure formed from a plurality of relatively thin superposed discs of material, one of said discs of material having a notch formed therein adjacent to the periphery thereof and a cooperatingprojection extending from the supporting structure into the aperture through said supporting structure to pass through the notch in the said disc of material and to engage the top of said disc of material and assist in holding the socketxin place when said disc of material is entered through the aperture in the supporting structure and rotated, said socket structure having said discs spaced at their edges to accommodate said projection.

2. A socket installation of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting structure having an aperture therethrough, a plurality of layers of material arranged to provide a socket body, contact retaining means` and attaching means for the socket, one of said layers of material spaced from another and having a plurality of notches formed -therein in spaced relation around the periphery thereof and a cooperating plurality of projections extending from the supporting structure into the aperture through said supporting structure to pass through the said notches and project between said layers of material and hold the socket in place when said notched layer of material is entered through the aperture in the supporting structure and rotated, said socket comprising at least one socket contact device having a securing portion thereof disposed between said layers.

'3. A socket installation of the class described:

relation around the periphery thereof, a cooperating plurality of projections extending from the 'supporting structure into the aperture throughsaid supportingv structure to pass through the-1 said notches and engage the top of saiddisc" ofA material and assist in holding the socket in;

place when said disc of material is entered through the aperture in the supporting structure and rotated, another of said discs formed to abut against said supporting structure so as not to pass through said aperture, said last-named disc being flexible, and locking means provided partly by the socket and partly by the supporting structure and engageable by the flexibility of said last-named disc to lock the socket against accidental rotation relative to the supporting structure after being secured in a predetermined position relative thereto.

4. A socket installation of the class described comprising, in combination, a relatively thin supporting structure having an aperture therethrough, a plurality of projections extending into said aperture, a socket composed of a plurality of superposed layers of relatively thin material, one of said layers'being large enough in diameter to cover said aperture and engage the supporting structure at one side thereof adjacent to said aperture and another of said layers of material being spaced from the first-mentioned layer and about the size of the aperture and having notches adjacent to the periphery thereof for cooperation with the projections extending into said aperture to permit passage of said last mentioned layer of material through the aperture in the supporting structure so that it may be rotated after the inserting operation whereby said notched layer may engage said projections and cooperate with the rst-mentioned layer to prevent the socket from becoming disengaged from the supporting structure, said socket comprising at least one socket contact device having a securing portion thereof disposed between said layers.

5. A socket installation of the class described comprising, in combination, a relatively thin supporting structure having an aperture there-.

through, a plurality of projections extending into said aperture, a socket composed of a plurality of superposed layers of relatively thin material, one of said layers being flexible and large enough in diameter to cover said aperture and engage the supporting structure at one side thereof adjacent to said aperture and another of said layers of material being about the size of the aperture and having notches adjacent to the periphery thereof for cooperation with the projections extending into said aperture to permit passage of said last mentioned layer' of material through the aperture in the supporting structure with accompanying flexing of said first-mentioned layer so that it may be rotated after the inserting operation whereby said notched layer may engage under said projections and prevent the socket from becoming disengaged from the supporting structure, said rst mentioned layer of material having a projection extending from the bottom face thereof and engaging a notch in the supporting structure by the flexibility of said first-mentioned layer to prevent accidental rotation of the socket relative to the supporting structure, said socket comprising at least one socket contact device having a securing portion thereof disposed between said layers.

6. A socket installation of the class described Vcomprising, in combination, a supporting structure having an aperture therethrough, a socket comprising a plurality of superposed layers of relatively thin material spaced at their edges to accommodate the supporting structure after installation, one of said layers of material having a notch formed therein adjacent to the, periphery thereof and 'a cooperating projection extending from the supporting structure into the aperture through said supporting structure to pass through the notch in the said layer of material and to engage the top of said layer of material and assist in holding the socket in place when said layer of material is entered through the aperture in the supporting structure and rotated and centering projections formed from said supporting struc-V ture and extending Itherefrom adjacent to the aperture to cooperate with the periphery of the notched layer of material to keep the socket axially aligned with the aperture in the supporting structure, said socket comprising at least one socket contact device having a securing portion thereof disposed between said layers.

'7. A socket installation of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting structure having an aperture therethrough, a socket comprising a plurality of superposed layers of relatively thin material at least one of which is flexible, a projection and notch provided by the supporting structure and one of the layers of material tosecure the layer and supporting structure against relative rotation, a second projection and notch formed between the supporting structure and one of the layers of material yand cooperating to permit that layer of material to pass through the aperture in the supporting structure.

-said layer of material is rotated, and centering projections formed from said supporting structure and extending below the bottom plane thereof adjacent to the aperture therethrough and cooperating with the periphery of that layer of the material which passes through the aperturethereby to keep the socket axially aligned with the aperture in the supporting structure, said socket comprising at Ileast one socket ,contact device having a securing portion thereof disposed between said layers.

8. A socket installation of the class described comprising, in combination, a relativelythin supporting structure Ahaving an aperture therethrough, a plurality of projections extending from the supporting structure in the plane thereof into thel said aperture, a socket formed from layers of yieldable material and comprising a top plate of larger diameter than the aperture in the supporting structure, a bottom plate of substantially the same size as the aperture and providedwith notches which cooperate with the projections and permit the bottom plate to pass through said aperture, spacing means between the top and bottom plates spacing those plates apart about the thickness of the supporting structure, locking projections extending from the top plate beyond the supporting structure and engaging in notches formed in the supporting structure adjacent to the aperture therethrough to prevent rotation of the socket relative to the supporting structure, said locking projections normally extending vbelow the under surface of the top plate and enmaterial and comprising a rst flexible plate of a size to abut the supporting structure about the edges of said aperture, a second plate of a size to pass through the aperture in one position thereof and provided with a notch to pass by said projection during entry of said second plate through said aperture, said plates being centrally secured together and separable at the edges by the flexibility of said first plate, cooperating means presented by said supporting structure and one of said plates, and resiliently engageable after rela- CARL L. KNU'rsoN. 

